Lamp-receptacle.



No. 864,427. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

* H. W. LAWRENCE.

LAMP REOEPTAGLB. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 1907 v A T v 4; 20 1 w 'fiJ wmmw M @lwvc ll for,

} HARRY WALLACE LAWRENCE, OF DENVER,

UNITED STATES P ENT OFFICE.

COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NEW ENGLAND ELECTRIC 00., A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

LAMP-RECEPTACLE moldings, ceilings, walls, and conduits.

In one of its aspects the invention consists ofa porcelain base havingaface with channels or cavities therein adapted to receive the circuit wires in a plane sufficiently removed from the ceiling or supporting surface and having'a threaded shell which projects from the face, and which is adapted to receive a compact and ornamental cover plate, such cover plate being adapted to wholly inclose and insulate the threaded shell.

In another aspect the invention consists in the arrangement by which the threaded shell is efficiently secured in place and angularly positioned in the base and at the same time very efliciently insulated from the central stud contact. I v a The invention still further consists in the features of construction and combination as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a recep tacle; Fig. 2 is a top view of the same with the cover plate removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 4 is a perspective View showing the porcelain base.

In molding and cleat wiring, the circuit wires are ordinarily carried upon the supporting wall or-surl'ace at a predetermined distance of separation therefrom, in order to avoid danger of fires, and to comply with the insurance regulations.

The receptacles are ordinarily made of porcelain, and are adapted to. receive the circuit wires and establish connections therefrom to an incandescent lamp. It is highly desirable that no metallic parts. which are in connection with the power circuit be exposed at any point, partly on account of the danger of fire, as above stated, and partly on account of the liability of injurious shocks to persons touching the lamp for any pun pose. ln other words, it is desirable to have the por cclain of the receptacle entirely surround and inclose the usual metallic sleeve contact of the lamp. In carrying out my invention I aim to obtain this result, and at the same time obtain a receptacle which is extremely compact and ornamental in appearance, and not more projecting from the surface on which it is supported than receptacles hitherto used.

Specification of Letters Patent. i rimion and January 5,1907. Serial No. 350,916.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

J5; lamp receptacle, having a base 2, of porcelain or suitable insulating Inatcrial. The upper face of the base 2 is conveniently made flat, as shown at 3, and is recesscd with, certain grooves for the circuit wires and cavities in which all of the metallic parts are inset and arranged. The thickness oi the base is sullicient for the purposes of strength and durability and also to properly space and retain the circuit wires the requisite distance from the wall or supporting surface on which they run. V

4 indicates an annular cavity or groovoextending inward from the flat face 3. This groove is quite deep and narrow and does not extendthrough a complete circle or circumference, but only through about or Q,- thereoi, as clearly shown in Ifig, 4. 5. indicate extensions of this annular groove or channel respectively located near the ends thereof, and 6 is another extension half-way between the extensions 5. The various extensions 5 and G are conveniently disposed at equal angular distances from one another.

7 and 8 denote a pair of parallel channels or grooves extending across the face 3 of the base. The channel 7 communicates with the extension ,6 of the annular groove 4, and the channel 8 communicates by a passage 9 with a central depression 10, at the middle of the space surroundedby the annular groove at. The depression 10 is concavcd or rounded inwardly to a curvature or shape corresponding to the curvature of the butt end of an ordinary incandescent lamp. It is also made quite deep, so that the central stud terminal later described lies below the plane of the passages which receive the circuit wires. In order to make this possible the passage 9 extends downwardly through the interrupted portion of the annular groove 4, so that walls or partitions ll are produced, and which separate the passage 9 fromthe annular groove 4. By this arrangement of having the groove 7 and the central stud terminal in the concave depression 10 the threaded shell is not only separated at all points from the centnl stud by a wall or barrier, but the screws and fastening means of the threaded shell are still more widely separated fromsuch stud so that there is no possibility of a short circuit. The butt end of the lamp is received so deeply into the base that it is considerably beyond the plane of the passages which contain the circuit wires and this is an important feature of the invention as will later more par: ticularly appear.

The threaded shell is indicated at 12, and is of the full length required for any incandescent-lamp. 13 denotes a cut-away portion of the threaded shell and this cutaway portion is formed to fit over the partitions 11, which separate the annular groove 4, from the passage 9. In this way the threaded shell may be inset deeply in the groove 4. Also it will be observed that the cutaway portion 13 serves to accurately position the threaded shell in the proper angular relation during the process of manufacture. At the lower edge of the threaded shell are a plurality of outwardly bent lugs or cars 14, which are adaptedto be positioned in the extensions 5 of the annular groove 4. There is also an additional outwardly bent car 15, which enters the extension 6 of the groove.

l6 denote small machine screws which are passed upward through the base to enter the various ears, and are leceivedin nuts 17, so as to hold the shell in place. Thescrew 16 which enters the car 15 is received in a metallic clip 18, which extends outwardly in the passageil, and into the channel 7. This forms a connection or terminal for the threaded shell. The central stud terminal is formed by a metallic strip or piece 19, which is bent to enter the passage 9, and which extends into the channel 8.

20 are screws in the respective pieces/l8 and 19, and which constitute binding posts or screws for the attachment of the circuit wires in the channels 7 and 8. The metallic strip or piece 19 is conveniently held in place by a machine'screw 16. p

21 indicate countersunk holes extending through the base and adapted to receive any suitable wood .scrcws by which the receptacle is attached to a molding or in any desired relation.

22 indicates a cover or plate which has a central hole 23, and adapted to be placed over the threaded shell so as to cover up all of the metallic parts and connections. It is evident that this cover plate may be made with a fiat lower face if desired and screwed down npon the threaded shell until it is tightly engaged upon thci'ace of the base. I'prefer, however, to make use of a small internal] threaded bushing 25 which screws down upon the threaded shell, and holds the cover 22 in place. In this relation the cover plate not only serves to inclose alloi the metallic parts, but also acts to stiffen and support the projecting part of the threaded shell.

26 denote grooves in the cover which cooperate to receive the grooves or channels 7 and in the base to receive the circuit wires.

It will be observed that the threaded shell is rigidly supported and is positively prevented from turning with the lamp, not only by the screws 16, but also by the cars 14 and 15, which are held against movement by the cavities in which they are located. The central stud terminal is separated from the threaded shell by the partitions 11, and also by the partition 24, which is formed by the material of the porcelain base adjacent to the annular groove 4. The porcelain base is massive and substantial, which is a great practical advantage, because the brittleness of porcelain renders it desirable to avoid any thin or projecting parts.

The bushing 25 is of the ordinary proportions or standard size usually manufactured, and the threaded shell 12 is of the usual length. But on account of the fact that the depression 10 is so deeply recessed into the base, lying as it does considerably below the plane of the channels 7, 8, which receive the circuit wires, an incandescent lamp is received very deeply into the receptacle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. The lamp is received so deeply into the receptacle that the usual metallic sleeve contact enters into the receptacle entirely beyond the edge of the bushing 25. The result vantage, because it prevents shocks, the liability to which in some cases is a very serious danger, particu-.

larly with 250 volt circuits, or three-wire circuits, the potential of which is frequently high enough to cause injury to persons sensitive to electric shocks What I claim, is:

1. A lamp receptacle comprising a porcelain base or block having an upper face with a pair ofgrooves or channels to receive circuit wires, said base having a central annular groove between said grooves or channels-for the circuit wires, a threaded shell received in said annular groove, said threaded shell havingontwardiy bent ears, means for securing said ears to the base, and means for making electrical connection from one of said ears to one of the grooves or channels for the circuit wires.

2. A lamp receptacle comprising a porcelain base or block having a central annular groove having less than a complete circumference of annular extent, a threaded shell having a cut-away portion and adapted to be inset in said groove, and a metallic strap or piece inset in the base and extending through the interrupted portion of said groove.

ll. A lamp receptacle comprising a porcelain base or block having an annular groove therein, said groove having a plurality of outward extensions, and a threaded shell having outwardly bent ears inset in said groove, said ears being received in said extensions.

4. A lamp receptacle comprising aporceiain base or block having a ilat upper face and an annular groove of less than a complete circumference ofangular extent, a threaded shell having av cutaway portion received in said annular groovp, the base having a passage extending through the interrupted portion of said groove and having an additional passage leading from the groove at an opposite diamctrical point from said first named passage, :1 mctallicstl'ap located in said first named passage and Com stiiuting a central stud terminal, and an additional clip located in the last named passage and constituting a shell terminal oi the receptacle.

A lamp receptacle comprising a porcelain base or block having a ilat upper face with an annular groove oi. less than a complei'c circumference of angular extent, said groove having radial extensions at a pluraliiy ofpoints, a threaded shell having outwardly bent ears upon ifsdower edge adapted to be received in said groove and extensions,

the shell having a cutaway portion corresponding to the interrupted portion of said groove, a passage in the porcelain base extending through the interrupted portion of said groove. a metallic strap within said passage and constituting a central stud terminal, and a metallic clipart-- tachcd to one of said ears of the shell and constituting a shell terminal.

6. A lamp receptacle comprising a porcelain base or block having a flat, upper face with a pair of parallel channels, a central annular groove between said channels, a threaded shell received in said groove, passages extending from said channels toward said groove, and a pair of metallic clips in said channels, one of said clips constituting a .ceniral stud terminal, theother of said clips being attached to the threaded Shell and constituting a shell terminal.

7. A lamp receptacle comm-ls! .g a porcelain base or block having a flat upper face witlrpramyes or channels, a threaded shell projecting above the pm w: of said face, terminals and connections for said threaded shell, :nda central stud terminal located wholly below the plane of said grooves or channels, and a cover plate having :1 hole to fit upon said threaded shell and having a lower face with grooves adapted to coiiperate with said grooves or channels. l

in witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

' IIARRY' WALLACE LAWRENCE.

Witnesses l'lnnnll. l mnnmo, \VAnno M. CHA'Z'IN. 

